Developing A Win Strategy in Mobile Testing

In fact, the smartphone is only 11 years old in our Brave New World with the Irish consistently among the top users of smart phones in Europe per capita.  In 2015 there was over 2.96 million users and it is forecasted to grow to 4.06 million by 2022 (Statista).   Most internet users in Ireland use their smartphone to use search engines, check their email and visit social media sites. The average person checks their phone 57 times a day!

      

Why Mobile Testing:

As digitalisation continues apace, the most significant current disruptor to the Quality Assurance and Testing industry is the evolution of smart devices. Mobile apps have become the digital touchpoint of choice, overtaking time spent in the web browser.

With the rise in popularity of smartphones, tablets and other device, there are many manufacturers who have entered mobile market, causing a flood of devices releasing in a very short period.

Many businesses don’t have the time or ability to navigate the burgeoning maze of multiple platforms, platform version, and devices. Even so, when they do come to terms with how necessary testing has become and decide to do the needful, these are some of the challenges often faced in Mobile Application Testing.

Here are 6 reasons why organisations should implement a robust quality assurance mobile testing process - which will lower costs, improve time-to-marke and increase brand trust:

1. Automation Under-Exploited

The average percentage of automation being carried out in suitable test activities is 16%, which is around 50% lower than in last year’s World Quality Report by Sogeti, Capgemini and Microfocus. This figure shouldn’t be taken at face value as, rather than showing a decline in automation. It indicates a maturity in this area whereby test organisations are recognising the scope of what can in fact be automated. This has resulted in a more strategic approach to what they automate as opposed to trying to take a blanket approach and automate everything.

Cognitive automation, machine learning, self-remediation and predictive analysis are the most favoured emerging techniques to support DevOps, mobile and IoT. To realise the true value of automation, businesses need to broaden their mobile automation strategy to include not just test plan, design and execution but also test environments and data provisioning.

2 . Device, Platform, and Operating System Fragmentation:

In 2018 the number of mobile phone users is forecast to reach 4.90 billion according to a recent Statista report. Where Apple produces fewer models of its iPhone and iPad, Android has vast diversity, there are 5000+ unique Android devices both smartphones and tablets.

This diversity makes it impossible for quality team to assure whether a tested application will work similarly on another device from the same product family since the CPU, memory, screen resolution, OS optimization and hardware could be different.

3. Different Mobile Application Types:

Mobile application could be Native, Web-based or Hybrid. Each of their test scenarios will vary since their implementation is different from one another

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4. Mobile Network Condition:

Time is money. A mobile application might work perfectly in test environment. However, in real world when user tries to use the same feature it might take 7-10 seconds to execute it due to bad network or load issues.  However as a recent Google report highlights Users will only wait 3 seconds before assuming the app as faulty and uninstall it. This will lead to revenue loss and trust issues for the business.

Application should work seamlessly when online, offline and on the go. Application should be able to handle changing network condition, roaming, weak signals, etc.

5. Changing Orientation:

Unlike desktop application mobile application can support Portrait, Landscape or both the orientation so it is necessary to keep in mind which screen of the application supports which orientation and test it accordingly

6. Lack of Access to Multiple Devices:

At times, it may be a case that two or more testers might need the same device at same time, wherein one tester must wait until other tester completes his work. Procuring multiple devices of same model incurs cost. Moreover, this will impact more when the testers are based out of different geographical location.

Sogeti is a global leader in testing and mobile application development. We offer mobile testing methodologies and solutions to ensure that the intended business value is delivered by the mobile solution. We offer fine-tuned mobile testing services supported by our proven and industry recognized testing approach. 

To learn more about how Sogeti Ireland can readily assist in developing and implementing your mobile testing strategy, please contact Will Murray, Head of Digital Assurance and Testing.  

Download the World Quality Report here to learn more about the main areas that your Quality Assurance and Test function should prioritise in order to remain competitive today and into tomorrow.